2 Post Lifts / Low Ceiling Height (10.75')

[triksterut]

Hey all,

Long time lurker - first time poster

I've been wanting to get a lift for some time but it's time to pull the trigger. I'm converting my standard overhead door to a high lift door (something that hadn't even occurred to me until I read the awesome FAQ: http://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/garage-door-high-lift-conversion.php). My garage has exactly 10.75' of clearance (minus where the garage door will be - only about 3-4' into the space). I've created a scaled version of my space, cars, and several of the lifts I've been looking at. (My total space is 12 1/4' W x 12 1/6' D).

Ideally my priorities are like so (not necessarily in this order!):

• Low Ceiling Friendly
• Asymmetric Setup (I have to park between it)
• 3 stage / low profile arms (at least the rears 3 stage)
• < $3k
• Not a Chinese death trap

Given those criteria, I started digging and realized that I can't find a low clearance asymmetric lift without breaking my $3k budget (of course Mohawk makes one). My current list looks like so:

Challenger CLFP9 (http://www.challengerlifts.com/CLFP9_fb.shtml)

Rag Top (re-branded probably): http://www.liftsuperstore.com/products/2-post-lifts-2/item/1-2-post-lifts/6-rag-top-convertible-9000-lbs

Directlift Pro 9F: http://www.directlift.com/Pro-9F-Two-Post-Lift-P43.aspx

Rotary R-RTP9: http://www.revolutionlift.com/RTP9-9000-Pound-Capacity-Two-Post-Lift-P1.aspx

Bendpak XPR-9: http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/two-post-lifts/xpr-9.aspx

Of these; I think only the Challenger has the 3 stage lifting arms. You guys have any thoughts or arguments for or against anything? Did I miss a manufacturer? I'm leaning towards the Challenger, but it's one of the more expensive ones (probably $3100 or so and I was really hoping for a $2500 limit).

Thanks all!

 

[brownbagg]

i got the bendpak xl9, which is the same as the xpr-9 and I need every bit of 12 feet to walk under it

 

[RHD 4 LIFE]

You need a Max Jack!
http://www.maxjaxusa.com/

 

[tonycastec]

If you check the archives, a helpful dealer mentioned Rotary used to sell a 10' ceiling 2 post lift "SPOA...." He answered a question I had ,similar to yours because I have a 10' ceiling.You may find a used one on C.L. ?
There a few issues for you to consider with a floor-plate/low-ceiling lift
1. You don't have a very low ceiling
2. The low ceiling lifts don't lift very high -so make sure you can stand up straight under it!
3.Depending what you lift, if you are over 6' tall and your car is over 4' ,the roof may hit the ceiling !I was lifting an xke or lotus 7 - so no problem.
4.The darn floor plate is a nuisance! Mohawk solved this by having massive 'feet' and running the hydraulics over the top. In theory you could run them in a channel cut in the concrete between the posts but you would need to write another post for advice on that!
5. Can you fit a regular 2 post by 'threading' the tops of the posts and hydraulics and cables between the ceiling joists & through the attic above the garage? One G.J. member has done this and put great pictures in the archives.
6.If you exclude all Chinese lifts you'll have a very,very short list. Better to focus on the reputation and warranty offered by the distributor?
7. If you are trying to exclude 'death traps' of any nationality -look for double, automatic locks on the columns. At least those can only fall one 'notch'

 

[triksterut]

Hey guys,

Thanks for your quick responses.

You need a Max Jack!

I'd like more than 4' - I'm not going to get much more than 4' admittedly but my estimates (with the height of my tallest car) should give me just shy of 6'. Unfortunately I'm 6'5" so this won't be awesome but it should be livable.

1. You don't have a very low ceiling
2. The low ceiling lifts don't lift very high -so make sure you can stand up straight under it!
3.Depending what you lift, if you are over 6' tall and your car is over 4' ,the roof may hit the ceiling !I was lifting an xke or lotus 7 - so no problem.

I was just going to put a safety stop indicator or something so that wouldn't happen

4.The darn floor plate is a nuisance! Mohawk solved this by having massive 'feet' and running the hydraulics over the top. In theory you could run them in a channel cut in the concrete between the posts but you would need to write another post for advice on that!

Yeah - I looked in to the Mohawk and some other brands that were "clear floor". They were all over my price range by a large margin

5. Can you fit a regular 2 post by 'threading' the tops of the posts and hydraulics and cables between the ceiling joists & through the attic above the garage? One G.J. member has done this and put great pictures in the archives.

Looked into this as well - my joists run parallel to how I park in the garage - and, where the left side post would be installed, I'd have to move it over almost a 1' to clear the joist. This would be where I need to park my car - I'd always have to pull in at an odd angle and straighten out. not a fan. But this would be awesome - also the problem with buying a used lift. No used lifts are low clearance.

6.If you exclude all Chinese lifts you'll have a very,very short list. Better to focus on the reputation and warranty offered by the distributor?
7. If you are trying to exclude 'death traps' of any nationality -look for double, automatic locks on the columns. At least those can only fall one 'notch'

By "death trap" I simply meant $1000 ebay lifts. I realize that even with the made in America lifts a lot of the parts are sourced from China. It's all about quality and warranty/service as you say.

Jeremy

 

[hubgarage]

I'm converting my standard overhead door to a high lift door (something that hadn't even occurred to me until I read the awesome FAQ: http://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/garage-door-high-lift-conversion.php). My garage has exactly 10.75' of clearance (minus where the garage door will be - only about 3-4' into the space).

Thanks for the thread, this is my first time searching lifts, I never even thought of why people install tall doors when the car is inside, haha. That looks like a great alternative to a very tall door.

Yeah - I looked in to the Mohawk and some other brands that were "clear floor". They were all over my price range by a large margin

This one is under your $3,000 budget (which is how much I would want to spend), but over 12' tall, I wonder if you could adjust the top part down.

http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/two-post-lifts/XPR-10A.aspx

4.The darn floor plate is a nuisance! Mohawk solved this by having massive 'feet' and running the hydraulics over the top. In theory you could run them in a channel cut in the concrete between the posts but you would need to write another post for advice on that!

Yeah, browsing the web, it appears most lifts have a floor plate, I will look into one like the one I posted above.

 

[brownbagg]

really the best bet, i hate to say is a four post. if you had to lift high, you could push the 4 post out in driveway

 

[triksterut]

really the best bet, i hate to say is a four post. if you had to lift high, you could push the 4 post out in driveway

I looked into that as well - but I want to be able to quickly and easily remove the wheels. This would mean getting the very optional roller jacks for those things (about $1200 each - so $2400 bucks to add to the cost of the lift).

This one is under your $3,000 budget (which is how much I would want to spend), but over 12' tall, I wonder if you could adjust the top part down.

http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/two...s/XPR-10A.aspx

I also looked into this. If I could get a full height lift I could buy a used one for a heck of a deal. However, given how my ceilings joists go I would have to jog the lift so far to the left that I would have a hard time parking there when the lift was not in use - deal breaker. I decided to pull the trigger on a Challenger CLFP9 (http://www.challengerlifts.com/CLFP9_fb.shtml). I decided on this guy because out of all the lifts that fit my ceilings it was the only one that had the 3-stage low profile lifting arms. I paid ~$3100 for the lift. A little above my budget but I think it will be a good move. I'll post pictures once I get all the goodies!

 

[tonycastec]

Great choice !
The noteworthy feature is the exceptionally tall lift height for a floor-plate/ low-ceiling lift.
Most of the Chinese lifts of this type have columns that are too short(113") for anyone taller than 6'1" to use without 'sagging' at the knees when working on a vehicle.
The Challenger CLFP9 has a total lift of 78+".
If Challenger had a kit/mod to set the floor plate flush in the concrete -it would be great

 

[hubgarage]

If Challenger had a kit/mod to set the floor plate flush in the concrete -it would be great

OOO, I never thought about that. What lifts offer that?

 

[KeyserSoze]

I know you said 2 post, but have you considered an in-floor scissor lift? There's been a bunch of GJ threads on them, this was the first a search turned up: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35433

 

[tonycastec]

OOO, I never thought about that. What lifts offer that?

Mohawk have that design. I guess that it is not very popular because you have to cut out all the concrete ?Perhaps it is just Mohawk pricing?

The full-rise scissor lift is where I began the lift quest. Two problems
1. they are very expensive
2. not much space to work in between the runways.
the peculiar options I needed -like full length drive-on runways are even more expensive. Ever Eternal have some that are the most reasonable in price but who knows what service/parts would be ?

 

[bd8134]

I have a friend who is in the same situation and we are in the process of measuring to confirm everything fits. He already has a very old VBM lift but the hydraulics are failing and it is no cable safety etc, time to move on.
The Challenger has some great standard features in my eyes if you are restricted to a low ceiling model. 3 stages arms, 2 stage adjustable screw pads. They have been around for a long time, this lift is made in China, it is the same as the Quality lift, I am not getting good response on questions I am asking.
The Bendpak has standard 3 stage front and 2 stage rear arms, it has fixed pads. I called Bendpak, always great response from them. You can ask for 3 stage arms front and rear, this is what my friend will most likely go with, ask your dealer for a price. The screw pads are extra. The Bendpak is slightly narrower or wider.
I have a Bendpak lift and I had an issue when it was first installed. It was corrected with no questions asked and has been great ever since. It is so hard to find companies standing behind what they make and sell, yes this unit is also made in China. To me this is worth so much more, I expect mechanical things to fail but I like the fact the support is there.
My friend asked a dealer about Challenger and he said they required pictures and it was a hard fight when stuff was wrong. Your experiences may be different.

 

[tonycastec]

Thanks for the valuable real-world experience. It comes down to customer service/after sales support again. I wouldn't begrudge a vendor a few photos to prove a defect. I would object to a grumpy attitude. I note that Bend Pak seem interested and active in fixing problems and making improvements. My experience of their customer service is spotty. Ask for Jason -a total geek on lifts !
To address the 10' +low-ceiling issue raised initially -the Bend Pak XPR-9 2 post is yet another one that is 6" too short! It is the Chinese standard(?) 113" columns.The XPR12 is 12' tall,too wide and is overkill for a light car. Am I missing an XPR-9 tall? We need a 120" tall XPR-9?

 

[Strouty]

You could cut the floor and put any of the floor plate models in so they are flush, as long as your concrete is thick enough. I was considering doing that, but I live in maine and the salt and snow would melt and settle in to destroy the parts that were in the floor. You would not have to worry about that. I ended up buying a Mohawk and will probably run the lines through my floor. It only needs a small cut to get the lines in, it is like 3/4" deep and 2" wide if memory holds. Again I know that a new mohawk is out of your price range, but a used one like a TP-10 would fit your ceiling and be better than the new cheapo lifts you are considering. The only issue is availability, I have found TP-10's for around $1800 used, but I am on the left coast where they are made.

 

[tonycastec]

"It only needs a small cut to get the lines in, it is like 3/4" deep and 2" wide if memory holds."
Are you suggesting setting the base of the columns 3/4" below concrete grade ,or just the channel for the hydraulics and cable?

 

[bd8134]

The Mohawk lifts I think only have the hydraulic lines to each side. The locks are released from each post also, so it is not too complicated to bury or bring the hydraulic lines up.
With the Bendpak and Challenger you have the equalizer cables running between the posts. The Bendpak also has the lock release as well, the Challenger you have to release from each post. More complicated to bury these and certainly not mentioned by these companies.
Tonycastec "To address the 10' +low-ceiling issue raised initially -the Bend Pak XPR-9 2 post is yet another one that is 6" too short! It is the Chinese standard(?) 113" columns."
The rise or clearance under the arms when all the way up, the Bendpak XP9-R is highest of all the Bendpak lifts, including the 143" high post lifts. It is a different design.

Be carefull when looking at rise that you are comparing the same. Some companies measure from the pad fully extended to the ground. The Challenger lift is 78" and has a rise of 72".